A device, and method for performing cardiac ablations includes a therapeutic instrument, for example, an ablation catheter (10), to which is mounted a flexible, and braided electrode (14). The electrode configuration is selected so that it has a desired surface area for proper heat convection properties. RF energy (26) is delivered to the electrode to heat, thereby ablate local heart tissue, with the electrode having good convection abilities to protect against coagulation, embolisms, and other undesirable effects of ablation procedures.